Have I Got News For You

Jack Dee makes his 20th appearance on the programme. Joining him are Emmanuel Sonubi and MP Dehenna Davison, both making their debut on the show.

Two debut appearances this week. Joining Ian's team is comedian and former bouncer Emmanuel Sonubi, and on Paul's team, Conservative MP Dehenna Davison.

Davison makes her debut appearance In the wake of the two by-election losses for the Conservative party, as this week marks Rishi Sunak's first 365 days as Prime Minister.

It's been a tricky week for the Tories, but Labour have had their own difficulties and accusations of plagiarism, as Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves was forced to admit she 'should have done better', after it emerged her new book contained passages that had been lifted from websites including Wikipedia.

"Something's gone wrong with Rachel Reeves' new book," pointed out host Jack Dee. "Yes, bits of it appeared on Wikipedia before she wrote her book," Merton replied, laughing, "Huge chunks of it apparently which appeared elsewhere before the publication."

"I find this one particularly confusing, because I think Rachel went to Oxford and the London School of Economics, which are pretty well-established, great universities," said Davison.

"There's a lot of thick people who go to these places," joked Merton, eyeing up former Oxford attendee Ian Hislop. "Honestly, you'd be surprised by how the standard has dropped over the years. It's plummeted, hasn't it? I'm not looking at anyone in particular."

"My point is, I went to Hull - great university, but in terms of the rankings, not quite up there with Oxford and LSE," continued Davison.

"In terms of the what?" joked Dee, interjecting.

"In terms of the university 'rankings'," replied Davison.

"There's not much else to do in Hull," laughed Merton, pretending to mishear.

"But I'm pretty sure one of the first things we got told was one, don't plagiarise, and two, certainly don't do it off Wikipedia!" Davison said.

"No! If you're going to copy, don't copy bollocks!" Dee laughed.

This week saw Rishi Sunak mark his first year in office as Prime Minister. But following two by-election losses in Conservative strongholds, the Tories trailing in the polls, and Conservative MP Crispin Blunt yesterday announcing that he had been arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of controlled substances, it hasn't been an easy week for Sunak and it wasn't long before the panel got stuck in.

Davison had a novel way of demonstrating to the audience that all was not well for the Conservatives.

"We've got a Tory MP here... relish it, because it's going to be a rarity!" joked Hislop.

"The next election might not be until December 2024. Are you excited about the prospect of being in your job for the next 12-13 months?" Dee asked Davison.

"There's nothing people want more than another Christmas election!" Davison replied, tongue in cheek. "Usually you get ticked off when people knock on the door and it's carol singers. It's going to be us instead, with our rosettes on, knocking on your doors. I literally cannot think of a better Christmas gift, can you?"

"Err, yes!" Dee laughed, "What effect has Prime Minister Sunak had on the Conservative party's fortunes in the last year?"

"I've been given my official line from CCHQ for this one," replied Davison.

"It's not a line of cocaine is it?" quipped Hislop.

"I understand it's this," Davison replied, holding up the sheet of paper in front of her. "It says 'Everything Is Fine' in giant letters, which is what I understand we're instructed to say these days," she quipped.

"Everything is fine... is that a fine for covid?" joked Hislop.

"Probably his greatest achievement is just that he isn't Liz Truss..." joked Dee. "What were Rishi Sunak's five priorities that he wrote down for everyone to see in January?"

"Don't be Liz Truss, do not be Liz Truss... don't be Liz Truss, DON'T be Liz Truss...." replied Hislop.

"That's only four..." pointed out Merton.

"'Fix swimming pool'," joked Emmanuel Sonubi.